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Show • p E N S y L V A N I A. ilrutl:ed in the winter~ for about fix ~eeks, by the feverity of t h e f ro1n1. ,• , bu' t , at other times, it IS bold and{ open. . The Schuilkill, though not navigable for any great pac~, 1s ex-ceedingly romantic, and affords the moil: delightful ret .. rements. Cultivation is carried to a high degree of perfection; and Penfylvania produces not only great plenty, but alfo great variety of grain ; it yiel~s likewife ~ax-f:ed, hemp, cattle of different kinds, and vanous other articles · It is divided into eight counties, and contains m~ny large ,and populous towns: Carlifle, Lancafier, and German-town, confi{l: each of near five hundred houfes; there are feveral others which have from one to two hundred. Ti1e number of inhabitants is fuppofed to be between four and five hundred thoufand, a fifth of which are quakers; there are very few Negroes or !laves. , . The trade of Penfylvania is furpriG.ngly extenfive, earned on to Great Britain, the Wetl: Indies, every part of North America, the Madeiras, Liilion, Cadiz, Holland, Africa, the Spanifh main, and feveral other places; exclufive of what is illicitly carried on to Cape Frans:ois, and Monte-Chrifio. Their exports are provifions of ·all kinds, lumber, hemp, flax, flaxfeed, iron, furrs, and deer-:fkins. Their imports, Engli!h rna- * In the fouthern colonies cultivation is in a very low fi:ate. The common procefs of it is, firfi: to cut off the trees two or three feet above ground, in order to let in the fun and air, leaving the fi:umps to decay and rot, which they do in a few years. After this they dig and plant, and continue to work the fame fields, year after year, without ever manuring it, till it is quite fpent, They then enter upon a frefh piece of ground, allowing this a refpite of about twenty years to recover itfelf; during which time it becomes beautifully covered wilh Virginian pines: the feeds of that tree, which are exceedingly fmall, and, when the cones open, are wafted through the air in great abundance, fowing themfelves in every vacant fpot of negleCled ground, nufaCl:ures,, P E N S Y L V A N I A. 47 nufatrures, with the fuperfluities and luxuries 6f life. By 176o. ·their flag of truce-trade, they al(o get fugar, which they refine and ii' nd to Europe. The ... r m an ufactures are very confiderable. The Germantown thread - fl ockings are in high efiimation; and the year befo re Jail:, I have been credibly informed, there were manufactured in that town alone, above 6o,ooo dozen pair. Their common retail price is a dollar per pair. The Irilh fettlers make very good linens : fome wooJlens have alfo been fabricated, but not I believe to any amount. There are feveral other manufactures, viz. of beaver hats, which are I fuperior in goodnefs to any in Europe, of cordage, linf~ed -oil, \ fiarch, myrtle-wax and fpermaceti candles, foap, earthen ware,. and other commodities. The government of this province is a proprietary one. The legiilature is lodged in the hands of a governor, appointed (with the king's approbation) by the proprietor; and a houfe of reprefentatives, elected by the people, confifling of thirtyfeven members. Thefe are of various religious perfuafions ; for by the charter of privileges, which Mr. Penn granted to the fettlers in Penfylvania, no perfon who believed in God could be molefied in his calling or profeffion ; and any one who believed in Jefus Chrifl: might enjoy the fir{l: potl: under the government. The crown has referved to itfelf a power of repealing any law,. which may in t rfere with the prerogative, or be contrary to the laws of Great Britain. The judicature confifis of different courts. The jufiices of the peace, who, together with the other judge~, are of the governor's appointment, hold quarterly feffions conformable to the laws of England; and, when thefe are .finif11ed, continue to fit in quality of judges of common pleas, by a fpecial comU1iffion. The fupreme court confifls of a chief jufiice, . and . two |